Red Deer RCMP thwarted a plot in recent days by three men to break into a Mountie’s house, kidnap a jeweler, drain his bank account and rob his store, provincial court heard Wednesday.
Const. Gary Kroeker, testifying at the bail revocation hearing of one of the accused, said police acted on information from a confidential informant to derail the conspiracy.
There was no ban on publication asked for by either the Crown prosecutor or defence lawyer at the lengthy hearing.
Kroeker said no charges have been laid in connection with the alleged plot. Ryan Bryce, 23, of Red Deer was detained in custody by Judge David Plosz.
Kroeker said police based their evidence on not only the word of the informant but information gleaned by police including surveillance which didn’t include Bryce.
Prosecutor Tony Bell told court Bryce was originally released on charges stemming from a separate incident a few days previous but was re-arrested on Jan. 25 for an “anticipatory breach of recognizance.”
Kroeker said police learned from the informant that the three men planned to break into a Mountie’s house and steal his uniform and other police related material.
They then were then going to take a Red Deer jeweler hostage and while one of the alleged conspirators strong armed the victim to drain his bank account the other two would steal merchandise from the store.
Kroeker said the informant told police the plotters had an assault rifle, at least one handgun, bearspray and bullet proof vests.
The assault rifle and handgun were located in searches of a residence and vehicle.
Bell argued that Bryce should be kept in custody because he faces 19 charges stemming from the last eight months in Red Deer and had been released on two separate recognizances. Ten of those charges are for alleged breaches of court orders.
“This was a very serious plan the accused had in place with his two accomplices,” Bell said.
He said the police took appropriate steps to stop the alleged plot.
Bryce was denied release for alleged breaches of court orders stemming from a late May stabbing and an August stabbing incidents in Red Deer.
Bell said the suspect in the May stabbing incident, in the downtown area, jumped into the Red Deer River to escape capture by a police dog team.
The April 11 scheduled trial for that incident was cancelled. A separate trial is scheduled for later in the summer on another stabbing incident alleged to have been committed by Bryce.
The accused returns to court Feb. 16 to set a new trial date on the May charges and enter a plea on charges stemming from a Jan. 21 bust in which he faces a weapon’s charge as well as four of the breaches of recognizance.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com